reynolds



(No Model.)

S. W. REYNOLDS. WASHING MACHINE.

Patented July 8, 1890 W/Wffj UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL REYNOLDS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE A. REYNOLDS, OF SAME PLACE.

WASHING-MACHINE.-

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 431,756, dated July 8, 1890.

Application filed AugustI'Y, 1889i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, SAMUEL IV. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0- ledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in XVashing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the followingis afull, clean-and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to washing-machines of that character in which a series of verticallyreciprocating pounders are operated within a rotating tub or receptacle.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction, reduce the friction and wear upon the parts, and render the rotation of the tub even and noiseless.

A further object is to operate the parts by a single shaft j ournaled in bearings that shall allow of the removal of the shaft and driving mechanism, together with the pitman and pounders, if desired.

A further object is to swivel the pounderpitman by means of hinged boxes, whereby they may be easily removed from the tub or receptacle by being disconnected from the crank-shaft.

A further object is to support the tub in a vertically-rotary position by means of casters held in the frame and bearing upon the periphery of the tub.

The invention consists in the parts and combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a complete device. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on lines 00 00, Fig.

.1, with the upper portion removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the lower portion of the tub and frame, showing the pivoted arrangement of the tub upon the frame. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the vertically-adj ustable pitmen to which the pounders are secured. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of one of the vertical standards of the frame, showing the arrangement of the Serial No. 821,099. (No model.)

hinged bearing for jou-rnaling the shaft removably. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing an adjustable pivot.

A designates a rectanglar frame composed of cross-timbers B near the base thereof, and vertical standards 0, secured thereto and held from spreadinglaterally by a band D, near the top.

E designates a plate formed with a conical 6o projection, said plate being secured to the cross-timbers B centrally of the frame to serve as a pivot upon which the tub revolves, as will be more fully explained.

F designates the tub, of conical formation, and preferably in the shape of a truncated cone, with the smaller end journaled upon 'the pivot-plate E by means of plate G upon the bottom of the tub, formed with a conical depression into which the pivot rests.

H designates casters secured in the standards O at a height to allow them to bear upon one of the hoops of the tub, and thereby keep the tub in a vertical position.

I designates a shaft journaled in bearings, 7 5

' J in the top of oppositely-arranged standards O and held to the bearings by upper bearings J, hinged to the standard 0 and held closed upon the shaft by a spring-catch K, secured upon the opposite side of the standard. Shaft I is formed with two oppositely-arranged crank portions H intermediate the bearings J, to which are swiveled pitmen M,by means of hinged boxings M, of similar.construction to boxings J and J, heretofore described. Pitman M is formed of two telescopically-arranged sections held to any desired adjustment as to length by means of a set-screw M there being a pounder N, of any desired construction, secured to the lower end of the lower section of the pitman.

Upon one end of, the shaft I is secured a balance-wheel, there being a pinion 0 upon the opposite end, into which intermeshes a gear P, journaled upon a stud P, secured to 5 one of the standards O, the gear P being provided with a handle Q.

R designates a friction-wheel, preferably formed of 1'ubber,to insure sufficient friction and avoid the noise caused by gearing in ef- 10o fecting the revolution of the tub. Wheel R is secured upon shaft I in proper position to bear frictionally upon the upper edge of the tub and revolve the same with the revolution of the shaft.

In operation, the parts being properly assembled, a sufficient quantity of water is placed in the tub. The clothes to be washed are also placed in the tub, together with the requisite quantity of soap to form a suds, and the gear P is revolved by means of the handle Q, thereby revolving pinion O and shaft I, reciprocating the pitman, and causing the pounder to operate upon the clothes to cause the soap-suds to pass through the interstices of the fabric, thereby cleansing the same of dirt. By the action of friction-wheel R upon the edge of the tub there is given a steady even revolution to the same, thereby presenting every portion of the fabric to be washed to the action of the pounders.

When it is desired to remove the fabric from the tub, the pitman may be disconnected. from the crank-shaft by allowing the hinged upper bearing to swing to open the boxing, or the crank-shaft and pitman may be removed by reason of the separable bearing in which the shaft is journaled, thereby allowing free and uninterrupted access to the tub, this feature being also of great value when it is desired to attach the wringer to the upper edge of the tub.

When it is desired to empty the tub of soapsuds, it can be withdrawn through a cock S at the bottom of the tub, or, by reason of the removability of the shaft I from the frame, the tub may be removed from the frame and turned with the top resting upon the floor, to exclude dust therefrom.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of pivot, which consists of a threaded rod E, tapped through the plate E, which is threaded to receive the same, and by which means any wear upon the roller or edge of the tub may be compensated for by turning the screw to cause the pivot end of the rod (which rests in the conical depression in plate G) to raise the tub into frictional engagement with roller B.

What I claim is 1. In a washing-machine, a frame formed of cross-bars at the base, with vertical standards secured thereto, held from lateral movement by a band, a Vertically-adjustable pivot centered in the cross-bars, and horizontal casters secured to the frame and adapted to bear upon the periphery of the tub mounted within the frame, in combination with a crank-shaft removably journaled upon' the frame and provided with a friction-wheel adapted to bear upon the top of the tub, gearing upon the crank-shaft, intermeshing gearing upon the frame, and pitmen locked upon the crankshaft, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination, with a frame composed of the cross-bars at the base and the vertical standards secured to the ends of said cross-bars, aband encircling the standards and secured to the same near their upper ends to prevent lateral displacement, and a tub pivotally supported within the frame, of the inwardly-projecting horizontal casters secured to the inner faces of the standards and adapted to bear upon the vertical exterior of the tub, the bearings, a crank-shaft journaled in said bearings, pitmen connected with the crank-arms, and a friction-wheel mounted upon the shaft and adapted to bear upon the upper edge of the tub, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL WV. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

J. ELLIOT Ross, '1. J. LUoE. 

